Unearthed Chinese well in Hong Kong to be disassembled and relocated

The ancient Chinese well uncovered during construction of an underground subway system in Hong Kong will be dismantled and moved to a nearby location, it has been decided. The discovery of archaeological remains during the construction of this line has been contentious, pitting heritage advocates against the the construction of the already-delayed line.

The future To Kwa Wan station, where archaeological remnants have been found. Source: South China Morning Post: 20141206

The government announced yesterday that it would accept its heritage advisers’ recommendation to dismantle, remove and then reassemble an ancient well unearthed at the future To Kwa Wan station on the MTR’s Sha Tin to Central rail link, saying it did not want to cause further delay to the project.

The project is already 11 months behind schedule because of the archaeological dig, and as a result the section connecting Tai Wai to Hung Hom will not be able to open by December 2018 as scheduled.

The Development Bureau’s announcement came after the Antiquities Advisory Board last week endorsed the cheapest of four options to conserve the ancient well, which dates to the Song (960-1279) or Yuan (1279-1368) dynasties.